ECO E64 · King's Indian Defense

King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Pterodactyl Variation

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 c5 5. Bg2 Qa5+

abcdefgh87654321
White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

6. Nc3+0.39

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Pterodactyl Variation (E64), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 c5 5. Bg2 Qa5+, Stockfish 18 recommends 6. Nc3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.39).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.396. Nc3 O-O 7. O-O cxd4 8. Nxd4 Nc6 9. e3 d6 10. h3 Bd7
  2. +0.326. Bd2 Qb6 7. dxc5 Qxc5 8. Qb3 Ne4 9. Be3 Qa5+ 10. Nfd2 Nc5
  3. +0.226. Qd2 Qxd2+ 7. Nbxd2 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Nc6 9. N2b3 O-O 10. O-O Nxd4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Pterodactyl Variation?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 c5 5. Bg2 Qa5+, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6. Nc3 for White, continuing O-O 7. O-O cxd4 8. Nxd4 Nc6 9. e3 d6 10. h3 Bd7. White is slightly better (+0.39). The next best moves are 6. Bd2 (+0.32) and 6. Qd2 (+0.22).
Is the King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Pterodactyl Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.39: white is slightly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Pterodactyl Variation?
E64. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; E is the volume for indian defenses.

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).